Get to know the alt rock/post-hardcore 4-piece band Hold Fast Hope!

On March 30th, they released their new EP “Traitors” via Downport Records They recorded this collection at VuDu Studios (Glassjaw, Gates, Hail The Sun) in Port Jefferson, NY with Dom Nastasi & Mike Watts. They released their first single from the EP, “Fade”, on February 1st ahead of their ‘Traitors’ EP Release Party at Revolution Music Hall in Long Island, NY. They followed with two more release shows in Phoenixville and Wallingford over the next two days. Currently the band is writing for follow up releases in 2018 and planning to tour through the Summer & Fall.

Hold Fast Hope first came onto the Long Island scene in early 2016 when they released their debut single “Fortune Favors” with an accompanying music video directed & filmed by Samuel Halleen (Dance Gavin Dance, August Burns Red). From there the band has gone on to perform a number of shows across Long Island, NYC & New Jersey including performances at Citi Field opening up for a Mets game in the main rotunda and New Jersey Fringe Festival.

Their sound blends alternative and post-hardcore rhythms and melodies with an overlying ambient texture, with influences ranging from Thrice & Glassjaw to Foxing & Citizen.

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Learn more about Hold Fast Hope in the following All Access interview:

So what is one song that you are all loving right now? What is a song that you all disagree about loving right now?

We all agree on “Fade” being one of our favorites but my personal favorite (Djavan) is “Traitors Pt. II” on our record.

How has 2018 been treating you all so far? What is one musical goal that you have for this year?

2018 has been great so far. A lot of investments made towards our touring gear. The record release tour through the tri state area was great. Amazing responses at the shows and then playing locally with bands that we both respect and are influenced by such as Gatherers and LIMBS (both Equal Vision Records.) Our single “Fade” off the Traitors Ep is also on a Hopeless Records compilation “The Great Big Susiepalooza Vol. 3” with bands we grew up listening to such as SUM 41, Silverstein, Bayside and Local H. We are just hoping it continues that way.

This year we are hoping to release one-two other EPs due to the volume of music we have written since entering the studio for the Traitors EP.

Can you recall the moment when you all thought you could be in this band together? Was it hard to come up with a name that you all thought fit your sound and who you are?

Nick’s (bassist) first day was when we all knew it was set in stone. We compliment each other greatly as musicians as well as personalities.

Honestly the music came first, then the name. Fortune Favors (our first single) was composed by Daniel S, Daniel L and Djavan and we were unsure until Nick joined the fold. The name derived from a Thrice song we all enjoyed. The sailors term “Hold Fast” a term used to warn sailors to grip tightly during emergencies conjoined with the thing we all need in our lives “Hope” really drove it home for us. We immediately were struck with visuals of restless oceans and the poor souls gripping onto ropes with the hope of surviving. Our sound was never determined by the name but in actuality the exact opposite.

How much do you think you all have grown as a band since you first formed? What has remained the same about your dynamics?

We each have individually grown so much as musicians and even more on how we interact with each other musically during the writing process. We have become more in tune with each other and even though we all love certain types of music collectively, we have also brought many different facets of ourselves and our musical histories to the table. So many different influences why not put them together!

What does it feel like to be releasing your new EP “Traitors” so soon? What was it like putting this collection together? Did anything surprise you about the overall process?

It feels amazing! It’s been a little tedious trying to make sure certain aspects of the record process met deadlines stressing out over the normal things that all bands know. The 3 Ms – Media, Merch, Money haha but we loved the studio we worked with (VUDU Studios) Mike Watts and Dominic Nastasi are such talented individuals and working with them honing in on what were looking for was like breathing air, effortless.

No surprises just acknowledgments. Acknowledging that we had something worth listening to, acknowledging that we are better musicians than we thought and that we can be better than we think.

Can you remember the first time that you heard your EP all the way through? What did that feel like?

Hearing the EP gave us a sense of completion. We are proud of the songs on the record and love the fact that they all portray a different aspect of what we can bring the table while keeping a sense of fluidity throughout the record.

How would you describe your shows? What can people expect from them?

We play hard & move a lot haha! We just like to have fun and want everyone we play for to feel the same way. Expectation is a tricky word, people can expect to fall into the music, they can expect to see more bow on guitar, they can expect to either head bang or to get lost in an ambient trance at times. Sometimes you don’t get what you want, “but you get what you need.”

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere? Where can people see you perform at next?

We love both aspects equally. We love writing new music, that part of the process comes easy to us. We also love playing live and watching crowd reactions. We love when we can see people in the front row mouthing the words to our music too!

We will be out on the road again the weekend of 5.18 – 5.20, we are currently finalizing that for announcement but as of now confirmed show at the Grape Room in Philly 5.19!

How do you think being a musician and in this band gives you all the most joy in life today? With everything going on in the world today, how do you think your music is a reflection of these times?

Music for us is a necessity especially with everything going on today. For us our studio is our temple and music is our form of meditation. Some people go to the gym, so people modify cars, we play music. This recent record is a step away from a lot of the problems in the world today on a macro scale but it focuses on the micro problems that we deal with internally within our personal lives and the people around us. The new set of music we have written really starts to hone in on topics of race, creed and subjugation.

Who are you all listening to these days? What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

We would love to work with all of them! haha!

How important do you think social media has been to this band? Do all you help to maintain all your sites or is one of you more into it all? Or do you rely on your PR/management team to handle it all?

Recently we have realized just how much social media has played a part in our success. In today’s day and age everything is instant, and the weight of social media has grown versus the days when leaving an EP on someone’s doorstep could suffice.

As for media prompts and making sure everything stays fresh we have to give the MVP award to Daniel L. He has been instrumental in our social presence. Recently we gained a PR team (25/8 PR) so hopefully it would be one less thing for us to focus on.

Who would you love to work with in the future? Who are some of your favorite artists right now? What do you think would be a dream collaboration for this group?

If we had to choose we would love to work with bands like Pianos become the Teeth. Meeting Zach (bassist) of Pianos at their recent release show in Brooklyn was such a pleasant experience and seeing them play live really drove it home for us. Their growth as a group has been exponential musically and we are so excited for them and their growing success.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs? What do you hope they take away from one of your shows?

We hope they don’t feel alone when listening to our music. We hope they continue to take away a sense of completion spiritually and excitement for their life, We hope they watch us live and go home and blast our music. Our music and our message may be emotionally serious but we hope our fans realize that we all feel what they feel, that life is a series of rogue waves and the only way you survive is to the see the sun. If you don’t lose “Hope” and you “ Hold Fast” to the people who help secure you. If they love music as much as we do they will.

About the Author

Leah Brungardt joined All Access Music Group in August 2011 and has been enjoying getting to know a new side of the music industry ever since. Having worked to promote radio stations in the past, seeing what makes a successful radio hit has been a thrill. As a lover of all genres of music, working at All Access Music Group is a perfect fit for Leah, and she loves learning about up and coming musicians as well. Most of her friends have come to rely on her for new music.